No action against campaigners flouting Covid norms

Amit Bathla
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, December 23

Following a letter from the state Election Commission (EC) that stated Covid-19 guidelines were being flouted with impunity by campaigners in Panchkula Municipal Corporation elections, Returning Officer-cum-ADC Mohd Imran Raza today presided over a meeting of mayoral candidates while four assistant returning officers met aspirants for councillors post to remind them of the pandemic norms laid down by the EC.

Raza, however, made it clear no action had been taken so far by the administration in this regard.

On Monday, the state Election Commission had written to the district administration to ensure that the Covid guidelines were followed by political parties and contesting candidates during campaigning.

Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation, State Election Commissioner Dalip Singh confirmed the development.

“Even though we issued Covid-19 guidelines at the time of announcement of election, we wrote a reminder letter to district authorities concerned, including Panchkula, after campaign photographs from several districts came to our notice suggesting non-compliance of the Covid guidelines by parties and candidates,” he added.

The state election body in fresh instructions has made it clear that anybody violating Covid-19 guidelines will be liable to proceeded against as per provisions of the Section 51 to 60, Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188, IPC, and other legal provisions of the Centre.

Even though the daily Covid numbers in the district are coming down, the news of a more virulent virus strain identified in Britain has sparked fresh fears with the government suspending all flights from the United Kingdom until December 31.

The photographs and other visual media shared by political parties of their daily campaigns indicate that they are tired of the pandemic and cocking a snook at the Covid guidelines issued by the state Election Commission.

The parties and contesting candidates attract larger crowds in their political congregations with hope to convert their physical presence into votes.

The greed to garner more votes makes it irrelevant for campaigners to abide by the Covid guidelines and put their audience in danger.

Yesterday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur canvassed in support of BJP candidates in Khatauli village (Barwala) and hundreds were in attendance with no social distancing and face masks. Even the Congress does not seem to be taking the guidelines seriously during campaigning.

The local police said over 17,500 challans had been issued so far to people caught flouting Covid-19 guidelines in the district. Of the total, around 1,300 challans had been issued in December alone when parties began campaigning for polls. On being asked, the police clearly stated they haven’t taken any action or challaned any political party, contesting candidates and even those attending their gatherings for violation of the Covid-19 guidelines.